Harry Potter Works Magic on March Most-Downloaded Lists

Surprise, surpise! In March, Harry Potter eBooks and audiobooks made a bold debut on our Most Downloaded Books from the Libary lists.

In the immortal words of “Anchorman” Ron Burgundy, Harry Potter is “kind of a big deal.” No word on whether or not, like Burgundy, the wizard has many leather-bound books and his apartment smells of rich mahogany, but one thing is for sure—Harry Potter is plastered all over the Most Downloaded eBook and audiobook lists for March. All that, and the J.K. Rowling titles were only available for three days!

The Hogwarts hero has made a grand entrance to Juvenile Fiction lists worldwide. In the U.K., the HP eBooks occupy positions 2-8; the first five audiobooks in the series hold 5-9. Other titles popular in the U.K. that you may have missed include the Adult Nonfiction audiobook The Knave of Spades and the Adult Fiction audiobook Brother and Sister by Joanna Trollope.

Flying eastward on his broomstick, Harry Potter made a bold landing in Australia. The series occuppied spots 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9 on Australia’s most-downloaded Juvenile Fiction audiobooks and claimed spots 4-8 and 10 on the corresponding eBook list. Harry may have to fight Katniss Everdeen for the top spots Down Under, however, as Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games series held the top three spots on both the eBook and audiobook Juvenile Fiction lists. Some other eBooks to watch out for in Australia are Michael Connelly’s The Black Echo, which debuted at No. 5 on the Adult Fiction list, and Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult.

Harry Potter burst onto the scene in North America, too, soaring to No. 3 on the U.S. Juvenile Fiction eBook list and No. 4 on the Canadian Juvenile Fiction audiobook list. The title of Sophie Kinsella’s novel I’ve Got Your Number rang true again, as the cell-phone romance topped Canada’s most-downloaded Adult Fiction audiobook list and placed third on the corresponding eBook list. In the U.S., William Landay’s Defending Jacob is gathering steam; it was the fourth most downloaded Adult Fiction eBook and audiobook.

It’s clear that, for library patrons, the more Potter, the better. At least for March. I have a feeling the magic will only grow in April. Also, keep your eyes peeled for the Fifty Shades trilogy by E.L. James. She’ll be waving a wand herself as her titles continue their popular explosion.

“Anchorman II” and big download numbers are on the horizon. Make sure you have a great view!